AstroNova / Astro-Med Dash 16u Portable Universal 16-Channel Field Recorder

The AstroNova/Astro-Med Dash 16u is a 16-channel portable field recorder that consolidates oscilloscope, chart recorder, and data acquisition functionality into a single rugged instrument. Weighing approximately 30 lbs in a cast aluminum case, it delivers high-speed signal capture at up to 200 kHz per channel with 14-bit resolution across isolated, universal inputs that accept voltage, pressure, strain, and temperature signals without external conditioning. The unit combines a 10.4-inch color LCD display for real-time waveform monitoring with an integrated direct thermal chart recorder, dual-mode triggering, and 16 MB of high-speed RAM for transient and long-term data capture.

Technical Specifications

Channels: 16 isolated universal inputs; 16 TTL or switch closure event inputs

Sampling Rate: Up to 200 kHz per channel

Amplitude Resolution: 14 bits

Capture Memory: 16 MB high-speed RAM

Display: 10.4-inch active matrix color LCD (TFT)

Chart Recorder: Direct thermal, Z-fold pack (8.5" × 5.5" sheets) at 300 dpi; configurable speed 1 mm/min to 50 mm/sec

Triggering: Window and slope/level triggers with alarm output and capture abort functions

Power Input: 85–250 VAC, 50/60 Hz (auto-select)

Weight: Approximately 30 lbs

Key Features

Automatic time and date stamping with captured data

Automatic dual-speed chart operation upon trigger event

16 configurable amplitude grids (up to 200 mm wide) with user-defined or automatic placement

Tri-state time marking (×1, ×10, ×100) with selectable reference intervals (0.02–1 sec)

Per-grid text annotation (128 ASCII characters); automatic system log printing

Real-time or parallel display modes for efficient paper usage during setup

Glitch and spike detection for anomaly capture

Interfaces & Integration

Integrated 100 MB ZIP drive for data archiving, software upgrades, and configuration storage

Ethernet interface for remote setup download and data transfer to PC

Utility port connections for external start/stop, remote drive, and trigger control

Typical Applications In-vehicle diagnostics, industrial process monitoring, transient event capture, long-term signal trending.